Knob cylinder connector



May 3, 1955 M, FALK Y 2,707,386

f KNOB CYLINDER CONNECTOR Enea Feb. 2. 195o Y INVENTOR United tastes Patent Otlce 2,797,385 Patented May '3, 1955 KNOB CYLINDER CONNECTOR Morris Falk, Leominster, Mass., assigner to Independent Lock Company, Fitchburg, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 2, 1950, Serial No. 142,059

3 Claims. (Ci. 70--207) This invention relates to door locks and more particularly to knob cylinder connectors.

My invention concerns itself with key controlled cylinder knob locks, and more specitically with the problem of handing locks having key actuating means in the knob for manually actuating the retraction or actuation ot' the bolt. lt is contemplated by my invention to provide in a knob cylinder lock actuating a tubular lock mechanism through a spindle of unitary or multipart construction, knob control carrying key actuating mechanism in which the knob is removable with respect to the spindle and carries the key actuating mechanism oriented therein, the assembly permitting engagement and disengagement or" the knob with respect to the spindle for mounting on left and right hand doors or left and right hand reverse doors, and effecting the connection or coupling of the knob with respect to the spindle without disassetnbling of the mounted installation by reason of the change in hand.

Still more particularly it is an object of my invention to provide connection or coupling between a knob control mechanism carrying key actuating features for operating the spindle alternatively with the knob and a removal connector between the knob and the spindle whereby the knob may be installed correctly with each handed position of the door, without alteration of the latch actuating assembly, thereby retaining an assembled relationship ot the lock mechanism with left and right handed doors, while permitting a connection between the spindle thereof and the knob correctly oriented with respect to the key actuating mechanism carried thereby.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein, or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which- Figure l is a transverse sectional view showing an assembly in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1, magnified to show details;

.Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective View ot' the connector assembly;

Figure 5 is a development of a detail.

My invention may be summarized as providing a door lock, particularly of the removable knob type, having key controlled mechanism mounted therein in which key actuated mechanism couples the key controlled plug with the spindle for actuating the latch and includes knob control for likewise actuating the latch mechanism, the key plug being oriented for receiving the key in a uniform manner, without regard to the handing of the door in which the lock mechanism is mounted, the knob being removable so that all of the lock installation may be made and the knob assembled for actuation in a predetermined oriented position ot' the plug carried thereby for key operation.

Making reference to the drawing, l illustrate my invention with respect to a door which is handed for left hand swing and has a tubular lock 11 including n latch bolt 12 which may project into the strike 13 of the frame 14. The showing in dotted lines illustrates a superimposed condition for right handing. in this form of construction a cross boring 15 houses retractor mechanism .i6 actuated by a spindle assembly 17. Anchor means 18 and i9 are connected to draw plates to each face of the door. These plates combine with the escutcheons 2G, 21 on the outside and inside faces of the door to support the outside knob 22 and inside knob 23, respectively. My invention is specifically illustrated in connection with latch rctractor mechanism i6 which operates the retractor pin 24 engaging a rctractor link 25 for the tubular lock il, whereby specifically a combination latch and dead locking bolt mechanism is actuated by the retractor pin 24. Specitically, also, the outside knob 22 has provision for mounting thereon a cylinder lock operated by the key 26 which projects axially through the same, the knob 22 having a cylinder assembly 27 within which the cylinder plug 28 is rotated by the key 26 for key actuation of the latch operating assembly which will be described more specitically as this description proceeds.

The illustration in Figure l shows the inside knob 23 provided with a turnbutton 29 for locking or unlocking the outside knob. in accordance with my invention, the lock assembly may be mounted within the cross boring 15, including the positioning of the outside escutcheon 2t), projecting therethrough the spindle 3G which extends toward the outside face of the latch retractor mechanism i6, to receive the outside knob and key actuating mechanism,

either or both oi' which may, upon oscillation, effect theV retraction of the pin 24, as previously described.

In accordance with the illustration, the spindle assembly 17 forms one means of retraction of the retractor pin 24. A bushing 31, freely rotatable therein may be engaged by a sleeve 32 having cooperating keying means comprising slots 33 for rotating a retractor cam (not shown). The sleeve 32 is iixed for rotation with the key actuated plug 28 which is rotatably mounted within the cylinder housing 27 and coupled therewith by suitable connecting means, such as the pin 34. Actuation of the sleeve .32 by the key 26 will transmit the rotatable movement therein through the keying slots 33 to the bushing 31, previously described. The knob 22 has its shank 35 rotatably mounted with respect to the neck 36 extending from and formed on the draw plate or clamping plate to which one end of the anchor means 18 is connected. A sleeve 37 provides a rotatable bearing for the shield 3S, having a iiange 39 anchoring the same rotatively in the escutcheon 20.

With this assembly provided and the spindle segment projecting within the shield 38, there is mounted upon the spindle 30 an innner guiding sleeve 40 having a rib 41 which may nest upon the groove 42 of the spindle to orient the boring 43 with the boring 44 and the sleeve i' 4t). A boring 45 is positioned diametrically opposite to the boring 44 for purposes which will appear as this description proceeds'. Similarly the sleeve 37 has diametrically opposed borings 46 and 47, respectively.

The shield 38 has an upper boring 48 and a diametrically opposed boring 49, to receive a small pin, as will appear more clearly hereinbelow.

A transmission sleeve 50 may be revolubly sleeved over the key actuated sleeve 32 and has at its end 51 a cut out slot 52 for spanning the pin tumbler lug 53 for keying engagement therewith and the usual tumbler lug seat (not shown) in the knob 22 within which the cylinder assembly is mounted. The knob transmission sleeve 50 adjacent its opposite end is formed with a boring S4 diametrically opposed to the boring 55. The sleeve 32 is formed with a cross slot 56 which terminates at its opposed ends into lobes 57 and 5S of enlarged area. The extensiveness of the slot 56 arcuately corresponds to the throw of the af/o'aase spindle for retracting the latch retractor mechanism from a mid-point position tothe right or the left. Extreme clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the key actuated sleeve 32 will bring either of the lobes 57 or 5S to the normal position with respect to the cross pin 59, in which position the borings on the sleeve 37, shield 38, sleeves 40 and 50 are brought into alignment with the boring 43 of the spindle. In this position, the knob assembly may be mounted to direct the keying slots 33 into engagement with the bushing 31. A coupling of the knob operating transmission sleeve 50 with the spindle 30 may then be eifected by the cross pin 59 providing connector means which may pass through the boring 48, through the boring 54 to reach the borings 44, 46 and the boring 43 only upon key actuation to align either of the lobes 57 and 53 as the shank of the pin 59 is larger than the slot 56.

The cross pin is provided with a neck 60 restricted in size which may freely slide within the slot 56. A iiat head 61 restrains the pin from passing beyond the slot 56 but permits nesting completely within the boring 54 and f the thickness of the metal in which it is formed.

` In Figure 3 a position of the parts is illustrated showing the cross pin 59 passing through the spindle boring 43, extending through the sleeve 40, with the neck riding in the restricted portion of the slot 56 and nested within the boring 54. The borings 46 and 48 being at least as large as the head 61 permit passage of the cross pin successively into keying engagement of the sleeves 40 and 50 with the spindle 30. Rotation of the sleeve 32 which is actuated by the key plug 28 is nonetheless possible by the extensiveness of the slot S6, thereby permitting knob actuation of the spindle 42 through the cross pin 59 coupled therewith, and independent rotation of the key plug 28 with respect to the pin 59.

Should it be found desirable to change the handling of the knob with the key plug and key oriented arcuately as shown, as for example, in dotted lines in Figure 1, a pointed instrument may be directed through the borings 49, 45, 47, 55 and the slot 32a defined by the split portion of the sleeve 32, to reach the end 62 of the cross pin 59. The pin may not be projected through the diametrically opposed slot until key operation aligns either one of the lobes S7 or 58. Such key operation retracts the latch bolt and thereby permits adjustment with the door free for movement. Removal of the pin permits handing of the knob and the key actuating mechanism carried thereby properly oriented i. e., with the tumbler lug lying in the position above the axis.

When the proper adjustment has been made, the shield 38 may be rotated, partially to cover the holes 46 and 47 t of 'the sleeve 37, to render the assembly inaccessible to tampering and to seal the sleeve 37 from the weather.

By my construction it will be apparent that no special orienting pattern need be followed for making the installation with respect to the handing of the door and the orientation of the keyhole slot. The separability of the knob with regard to the spindle to be able to orient the slot after making the complete assembly in the door facilitates the handing ofthe knob.

' It will also be observed that removal of the knob for proper"handing may only be accomplished by one in possession of the appropriate key, as key actuation positions the connecting means into position for removal of the cross pin. Thus, possession of the appropriate key serves as the driving means for positioning the parts for separation, for locking and connection of the spindle knob and knob shank.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. .In a knob lock assembly having a spindle portion for operating bolt throwing mechanism, a spindle manipulator knob member having a shank actuated thereby and overlapping the spindle portion, connector means coupling said shank and said spindle portion for rotation, said connector means comprising a separable connector member normally to prevent displacement of said shank and spindle portion from said overlapping position, key actuated rneansrotatably carried by said knob member engaging said connector means and rotatable independently of said knob member and said connector member, locking means on said key actuated means to hold said connector member against displacement, said locking means for said connector member having releasing portions for said locking member actuated by the key actuated means to and from a releasing position whereby the knob member and key actuated means which it carries may be removed as an assembly for handing said knob and key actuated means with respect to said spindle portion.

Y 2. In a knob lock assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connector locking means comprises a sleeve concentrically positioned with respect to said spindle portion arranged to be engaged with said key actuated means in rotation thereof, said sleeve having a cross slot terminating in an enlarged lobe, and said connector member comprises a cross pin of a size adapted to pass through said lobe of said cross slot and said spindle portion, said cross pin including a headed member to one side of a restricted neck extending from the body of said cross pin, said neck normally fitting within said cross slot.

3. A knob lock in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connector locking means comprises a sleeve connected with key actuating means, said sleeve having a cross slot terminating at each end thereof with enlarged lobes, and said connector member comprises a cross pin of a size adapted to pass through said lobes of said cross slot and said spindle portion, said cross pin including a headed member to one side of a restricted neck portion extending from the body of said cross pin, said restricted neck normally fitting within said cross slot, the pin being bodily removable through either of said lobes in the extreme rotatable throw of said kcy actuated means and being engageable intermediate said lobe portion by said cross slot, to hold the cross pin against displacement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 35,899 Skidmore July 15, 1862 2,079,583 Brauning May 4, 1937 2,291,655 Schlage Aug. 4, 1942 2,301,751 Schlage Nov. 10, 1942 

